Calgary-Elbow

Calgary-Elbow is a provincial electoral district in Calgary's southwest, encompassing affluent and historically significant neighbourhoods including Mount Royal, Elbow Park, Britannia, Bel-Aire, Elboya, Altadore, Marda Loop, Garrison Woods, Rideau Park, Windsor Park, and South Calgary. The riding sits along the Elbow River and is bounded roughly by Glenmore Trail to the south, Crowchild Trail to the west, and the Bow River to the north. With approximately 48,000 residents, Calgary-Elbow has a long conservative pedigree — former Premier Ralph Klein held the seat from 1989 to 2007 — though it surprised observers in 2015 when Alberta Party leader Greg Clark won it, becoming the party's first elected MLA. Heading into 2019, Calgary-Elbow was one of the most closely watched races in the province, featuring a three-way contest between the UCP, the Alberta Party, and the NDP.

Candidates

Doug Schweitzer (United Conservative) — Schweitzer earned his law degree from the University of Manitoba in 2006 and was called to the Alberta bar in 2007. He practised restructuring law at Bennett Jones LLP and later at Dentons in Calgary, helping companies in financial difficulty. Schweitzer previously served as CEO of the Manitoba PC Party from 2008 to 2009 and was campaign manager for Jim Prentice's successful PC leadership bid in 2014. He ran for the UCP leadership in 2017, finishing third behind Jason Kenney and Brian Jean.

Greg Clark (Alberta Party)* — Clark was elected in 2015 as leader of the Alberta Party, defeating PC Education Minister Gordon Dirks. He became the party's first MLA and led the party until resigning the leadership in November 2017, serving as interim leader until Stephen Mandel was elected as the new leader. Clark attracted a floor-crossing NDP MLA to briefly grow the caucus to two.

Janet Eremenko (NDP) — Eremenko ran as the NDP candidate in Calgary-Elbow, mounting a competitive campaign in the three-way race.

Local Issues

The three-way race in Calgary-Elbow was shaped by the riding's unique political character. Unlike most Calgary ridings, where the contest was primarily between the UCP and NDP, the Alberta Party had a genuine base of support here built on Clark's personal reputation as an independent-minded centrist. Voters who wanted an alternative to both the NDP government and the UCP had a credible option. The key strategic question was whether vote-splitting between Clark and Eremenko would hand the seat to Schweitzer.

Neighbourhood development and density were persistent concerns. The Marda Loop commercial district along 33rd Avenue and 34th Avenue was a vibrant but congested shopping area, and residents debated the pace of multi-storey infill development in surrounding streets. The redevelopment of Garrison Woods on the former CFB Calgary lands had brought significant new density, and residents in older communities like Mount Royal and Elbow Park were protective of their neighbourhood character and concerned about traffic impacts.

The broader economic situation was relevant even in this relatively affluent riding. Many residents worked in senior positions in the energy sector and had experienced the downturn firsthand. The downtown office vacancy crisis, the oil price differential shock of late 2018, and the pipeline bottleneck were kitchen-table issues. The UCP's promise to repeal the carbon tax and fight for pipeline construction resonated with many residents, while others appreciated the NDP government's investments in infrastructure and social programs.